Our Staff of Eating Disorder Treatment Professionals

Please click here to meet the Leadership team at Columbus Park Collaborative.

Laura Bennett, RD

Nutrition Therapist and Registered Dietitian

Before joining Columbus Park Collaborative, Ms. Bennett served as the primary nutritionist at the University Medical Center at Princeton’s inpatient and partial hospitalization programs for eating disorders. She is an active member of the American Dietetic Association, the New Jersey Dietetic Association and the ADA Dietetic Practice Group in Behavioral Health Nutrition.

Leslie Benson, LMSW

Therapist

Ms. Benson earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and her master’s degree in social work at New York University. She completed her clinical internships at The Renfrew Center of New York and NYU Langone Medical Center's Hospital for Joint Diseases (HJD). At HJD she provided outpatient psychotherapy to individuals from the Comprehensive Pain Treatment Center. She also served as the interim program coordinator for HJD's Young Women with Disabilities Program. Ms. Benson served as Primary Therapist for the Renfrew Center of New York's Intensive Outpatient Program where she provided group, individual, and family therapy for women with eating disorders. Prior to her graduate training, Ms. Benson was trained as a certified holistic health counselor at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition where she worked as Education Coordinator and Director. As part of the Columbus Park Behavioral Health treatment team, Ms. Benson provides group and individual treatment to adolescents and adults with eating disorders. Ms. Benson combines insight-oriented approaches with evidenced based cognitive behavioral interventions to eliminate problematic eating behaviors and build healthy strategies for living.

Zoe Block, LMSW

Therapist

Ms. Block graduated from Smith College and earned her master’s degree in social work at New York University. Ms. Block currently serves as a primary therapist and treatment care coordinator on the inpatient eating disorders unit at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. She previously served as a staff therapist at Metropolitan Center for Mental Health, where she provided long-term, individual psychotherapy to adults, adolescents and children. As part of her clinical training Ms. Block completed a year-long internship at Columbus Park Collaborative, in the Day Treatment Program, where she was an active participant in clinical rounds and peer supervision. Prior to becoming a licensed master social worker, Ms. Block worked as a professional dancer, actor and choreographer. Bridging the gap between her artistic experience and current clinical practice, Ms. Block is particularly interested in helping performing artists negotiate the unique psychological and physical pressures they face over the course of their careers.

Laura Moretti, RD

Registered Dietitian

Ms. Moretti graduated from Rutgers University. She completed her didactic program in clinical dietetics at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Education, Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, where she is also currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Clinical Nutrition. Ms. Moretti completed her dietetic internship at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital including intensive training at the Weill Cornell Medical Center inpatient eating disorder treatment program. Ms. Moretti provides individual and group nutrition counseling as a valuable member of the CPC community. Ms. Moretti is an active member of the American Dietetic Association, the Greater New York Dietetic Association, and the National Eating Disorders Association.

Paloma Nunziata, LCSW

Therapist

Ms. Nunziata graduated from Ithaca College with a major in Clinical Sociology and completed her master's degree in social work from New York University. She later completed a full course of post-graduate study at the Center for the Study of Anorexia and Bulimia, Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy. She began her career working with adolescents on the inpatient unit at Queens Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii and later served at Forestdale Inc. and The Children’s Village as a therapist with children and families struggling in the New York City school system. Ms. Nunziata spent three years as an individual, family and group eating disorder therapist at the partial hospital level of care at The Renfrew Center of New York. In addition to her direct clinical practice at Renfrew, she served as the primary supervisor to graduate student interns. Ms. Nunziata provides individual and family therapy and facilitates a number of therapeutic groups as a valuable member of the CPC community.

Karen Schwartz, LMSW

Yoga Therapist

A licensed social worker, Ms. Schwartz is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and the International Association of Yoga Therapists, and is a frequent contributor to Fit Yoga magazine.

Danielle M. Smith, LMSW

Therapist

Ms. Smith graduated Magna Cum Laude and Pi Mu Epsilon from Fairfield University. She earned her master’s degree in social work at New York University and completed a year-long intensive training program, specializing in Substance Abuse and Co-Occurring Disorders. As part of this series, Ms. Smith interned at Inter-Care Ltd. in their Intensive Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Program, where she worked with individuals struggling with substance use disorders and eating disorders. Ms. Smith is now employed at Inter-Care and serves as a primary counselor providing both group and individual treatment to late adolescents, young adults, and adults. Ms. Smith is an active board member for the New York State Coalition of Social Workers, Inc. Before becoming a licensed master social worker, Ms. Smith was a financial analyst at Goldman Sachs & Co. in their Equities Division.

Rebecca Thaler, LMSW

Therapist

Ms. Thaler graduated magna cum laude with departmental honors in Psychology from Tulane University. She earned her master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Columbia University and then went on to get a second master's degree in Social Work at New York University. During her training, Ms. Thaler provided individual psychodynamic psychotherapy at The Training Institute for Mental Health. She also served as a therapist at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, Obesity Research Center of New York. Ms. Thaler is passionate about her work with adults and adolescents with eating disorders and related mood and anxiety disorders.